"Woman are more sensitive to preventive health measures than men"

When I asked Lesley Weeks Ochoa editor of the first illustrated guide to women's health entitled,WOMEN'S HEALTH AND WELLNESS AN ILLUSTRATED GUIDE, if there were any plans in the works to publish a similar guide for men, I was informed that women dominate health care. Furthermore, they are more sensitive to preventive health measures than men.

With this in mind, it is of little wonder why the Anatomical Chart Company, the same folks whose familiar illustrations adorn your doctor's walls, have published the first illustrated guide to women's health. Apparently, as I was informed by the editor, "there are many comprehensive women's health books, there are no comprehensive women's health books which try to communicate primarily through illustrations."

Although the topics dealt with in the book are not new, it is the treatment of the information that is novel. As the editor mentioned to me, the primary intention was to provide "an easy-to-read format so that readers could quickly gather what they needed." To a great extent the book does accomplish this objective.

Ochoa further stated that what differentiated this book from others was that most "competitive products" position themselves more as a "text book," rather than a quick reference and interactive communication tool.

The book brings together no less than 16 medical consultants who have contributed their expertise to the various topics of the book. These topics or sections deal with: general anatomy, general ailments, reproductive health, cancers, healthy aging, emotional wellness and healthy lifestyles. Within these sections are sub-sections that break down the general topics into their individual components.

For example, the Cancer section deals with its understanding, Breast Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Endometrial Cancer, Lung Cancer, Ovarian Cancer and Skin Cancer. The text information provides the reader with a general description, risk factors, symptoms & signs, prevention and management of the disease. All of this information is devoid of complex medical jargon. To achieve a better understanding we notice two colour images, one showing the progression of Cancer cells, and the other, Cancer incidence by site as mapped out on a woman's body. Upon viewing the images you have to agree with the editor that they are in fact simple in terms of labelling and explanation. Anatomical images can often be disturbing and graphic to the layperson, however, in the words of the editor, the main illustrator, Dawn Gorski, "selected views of anatomy that were layperson-friendly and even changed some of the colors to make it pleasing to the consumer eye."

The book will undoubtedly provide invaluable information to women who are passionate about their health and who wish to communicate intelligently with their health professionals.

Reviewed by Norman Goldman
Posted November 7, 2002

Summary

This book features more than 100 full color-illustrations, providing an at-a-glance understanding of all major women's health issues, from arthritis and high cholesterol to diabetes and menopause. It explains what each condition is, lists risk factors and symptoms and offers key prevention and management strategies--all in concise comprehensible language. Easy-to-read callouts offer key statistics and quick facts that explain why each topic is so important to women. The information is based on impeccable sources such as the National Women's Health Information Center and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' National Institutes of Health. Developed in consultation with 16 medical experts and grounded in gender-based biology.